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(No Model.)v

W. BUTT'LER.

CEILING TILE. y No. 357,144. Patented Feb. l, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo WILLIAM BUTTLER, OF FITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO J. H. BLAIR, OF SAME PLACE.

CEILING-TILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,144, dated February 1, 1.887. Application led November 29, 1886. Serial No. 22.0.12@ (No model.) l

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BUTTLER, of Pittsburg. in theA county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ceiling-Tiles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My improvement relates to the construction of tiles for ceilings and walls, particularly for interior decoration purposes; and its special object is simplicity, cheapness, and security of fastening, perfect alignment, neatness of joint, and concealment of the fastening devices. v

To enable others skilled in the art to 'make and use my invent-ion, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichn Figure l is a perspective view ofseveral of my improved tiles, and illustrates the manner lof putting them together. Fig. 2isasectional view of a part of a ceiling made with them. Fig. 3 isa face view of a portion of a ceiling made with them. Figs. 4 and 5 are views of modifications. Y

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My improved tile a is of square or other polygonal or suitable shape. It is formed of wood, glass, porcelain, clay, metal, papiermache, or other suitable material, and is made' with a lug, b, projecting from one edge, and two lugs, c c, projecting from the opposite edge, the said lugs being formed on the same side of the tile. When two of these tiles are put in place on a ceiling or wall, the lug side is placed inward, or next to the ceiling or wall, and the lug b ofthe first tile extends between the lugs c of the second tile and overlaps the adjacent edge of the second tile, whilethe lugs c overlap the edge of the rst tile. Thus they support each other. `The lug b has a screwhole, d, for fastening it yby a screw or nail to the surface of the ceiling boards or timbers e,

and this fastening is concealed from view by the overlapping edge of the adjacent tile. The other end of the tile is supported by its lugs resting on the edge of adjacent tile. l

Itis apparent that the screw-hole may be made in the lug or lugs c, instead of in the lug b, and also that there may be but one lug formed on each part, asin Fig. 4, and also that the under surface of the tile may be plain, as in Fig. 5, and these modifications I desire to include as equivalents.V4

The tile may be used on ceilings or on walls, around hre-places, in panels, and for decora tive purposes generally. I have shown the outer surface as plain; but it is' capable of being of ornamental shape, color, or design. If it is desired, a bead, as at f, Fig. 2, may-be made to cover the joint.

It is obvious that alternate tiles may have a lug, b, on both ends, and the intermediate tiles have lugs c on both ends.

The fastening is simple, cheap, secure, and is concealed. The alignment is good and the joints neat. The tile can be made at small cost, so as to be within reach of persons of limited means, and can be applied by persons without skill.

W`hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A ceiling-tile `having connecting and supporting lugs projecting at opposite edges and at the same side, one of which lugs has a fastening-hole, so that when the opposite edges of two tiles are brought together they shall meet and the bodies of the tiles shall cover the lugs, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handthis 11th day of November, A. D. 1886.

WILLIAM BUTTLER.

IVitnesses:

' W. B. CoRwIN,

TrIoMAs B. KEER. 

